May2017 Summary
UK Species Year List to May: 163
Total UK Species in May: 129
New “Year Ticks” in May: 33
New “Life Ticks” in May: 1
The month was largely dominated by our holiday in Suffolk and Norfolk as well as Rutland Water between 30 April – 12th May 2017 which is summarised here. However we also had a bit of an average visit with the birding group to Leighton Moss RSPB on the 16th May and a much better one at the Upper Goyt Valley on the 23rd May. At the former we only got one “year tick” but at the latter we got several. On the 30th of May we went back to Burton Mere Wetlands to see the breeding Cattle Egrets which we did and also had nice sightings of several warblers.
We had a couple of other outings on our own. On the 22nd May we went on our own to RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands but failed to find the Buff-breasted Sandpiper we had hoped to connect with and on the 28th May we went up to Hoylake for a high tide which was a little spoiled by dog walkers and horse riders..
On Monday 22nd May 22 people including many children were killed when a suicide bomber exploded a rucksack bomb as parents and children were leaving the MEN Arena after the end of a concert by Ariana Grande. Many others were seriously injured.
In the garden we have the odd Swift flying overhead and a Nuthatch is visiting the feeders quite often. We are starting to see the first few juvenile Goldfiches appearing and a Ring-necked Parakeet flew over. The nesting Magpie, two gardens along, is helping to deter all of the Feral Pigeons in the garden and most of the Woodpigeons too. We see the occasional Robin and hear a Dunnock and Blackbirds are regular feeders and bathers in the garden.We have also had regular visits to the feeders by a Nuthatch
The weather has been quite mixed with a bit of a mini heat wave for three days around the 26th.
Life Tick was Red-breasted Flycatcher at Holme Dunes NNR
Year ticks inc
Stone Curlew at Weeting Heath on 1st May
Cuckoo, Hobby, Glossy Ibis and Whitethroat at Lakenheath Fen on 1st May
Bar-headed Goose, Mandarin Duck, Common Gull, Kittiwake and Sandwich Tern at Minsmere on the 2nd May
Swift at Strumpshaw Fen on 4th May
Common Crane at Horsey Mere on 4th May
Little Ringed Plover at RSPB Minsmere on 6th May
Redstart, Wheatear, Whinchat and Turtle Dove at Holme Dunes NNR (also see life tick above) on 6th May
Lesser Whitethroat at Home Dunes NNR on 7th May
Yellowhammer at Chosely Drying Barns on 7th May
Sanderling and House Martin at Titchwell Marsh RSPB on 8th May
Dotterel at Chosely Drying Barns on 8th May
Woodlark at Santon Downham on the 9th May
Grasshopper Warbler at Thornham on 9th May
Grey Partridge at Abbey Farm on 11th May
Marsh Tit at Leighton Moss on 16th May
Dipper, Spotted Flycatcher, Red Grouse, Tree Pipit and Ring Ouzel at Upper GOyt Valley on the 23rd May
Breeding Cattle Egrets at Burton Mere Wetlands on 30th May